Balance-valve.



W. C. WEBSTER.

BALANCE VALVE.

APPucATmN FILED MAY l. 1915.

mamma..

Patented Aug. 21, 1917.

CFI

intimen srarns rarnnr ernten;

'WILLIS C. WEBSTER, OF DUBOIS, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR TO BUFFALO AIR-BRAKE COMPANY, 0F BUFFALO, NEW YORK, A CORPORATION OF ARIZONA.

BALANCE-VALVE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 2l, 1917.

Application filed May 1, 1915. Serial No. 25,273.

To all whom t may concern Be it known that l, lViLLIs C. WEBSTER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Dubois, in the county of Clearfield and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful improvements in Balance-Valves, of which the following is a s peciication.

My invention relates to new and useful improvements in valves, the primary object of my invention consisting in the provision of a frictionless balanced valve.

A further object of my invention consists in providing a balanced valve structure in which the valve proper is balanced for both iii-coming and out-going pressures, eren although these pressures are different and irrespective of whether the valve is opened or closed.

A. still further object of my invention consists in providing a valve of the above described character which, by means of a few structural changes, may be opened and closed manually or mechanically or the opening` and closing of which may be controlled by fluid pressure means through the employment of pressure chambers formed in the valve casing itself.

A still further obj ect of my invention is to so construct the valve that it is capable of handling or controlling fluid at all pres-- eures, its operation being asefl'ective if the valve at one side is subject to exceptionally high pressure and at the other side to a partial vacuum.

In accomplishing the above objects, I provide a valve casing divided by a septum or spider formed with a valve seat and a valve "having a fluid pressure passage which is closed when the valve engages the seat, the valve being supported and controlled by means of a plurality of diaphragms secured to the valve and valve casing and forming a number of pressure chambers, communication between the inlet port of the valve and outlet port thereof being established through the valve itself and between certain of these pressure chambers.

A further object of my invention consists therefore in providing a construction by means of which the valve and its diaphragme may be readily assembled and properly secured in the valve casing.

Further objects, such as the provision of a novel form of structure for the valve proper, of means for limiting the opening of the valve to prevent unduedisplacement of the diaphragms and the like, will appear during the description of the valve con struction.

l/Vith these and other objects in view, my invention will be more fully described, illus trated in the accompanying drawings, and then specifically pointed out in the claims which are attached to and form a part of this application.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a central, vertical sectional view taken through my improved valve;

Fig. 2 is a view corresponding to Fig. 1, illustrating` a somewhat modified form of valve construction.

Corresponding and like parts are referred to in the following description and indicated in all the views of the drawings by the same reference characters.

My improved balanced valve includes a valve body or casing 10 open at its ends and preferably cylindrical in shape, this body, intermediate its length, being divided by a transverse septum or spider 11 having a plurality of enlarged equalizing passages 12 and formed centrally with a cylindrical bore 13 to receive the cylindrical body portion of a valve seat 14. This valve seat is preferably pressed into place in the bore 13 and at its lower end is provided with a circumferential shoulder 15 which engages the lower face of the septum 11 to insure its proper positioning therein. This valve bushing is formed with a central, cylindrical bore 16 which, near its lower end, is formed interiorly with spaced annular shoulders sl-shaped in section, projecting into the bore, the lower of these shoulders projecting to a less extent than the upper to provide spaced frusto-conical valve seats 18 and 19. rlhese seats are preferably, although not necessarily, formed at the same inclination to the longitudinal axis of the bushing and the lower seat is in effect formed in the lower face of the bushing.

Cio-acting with the above described valve seat, is a valve proper, indicated as a whole by the numeral 20. This valve includes a cylindrical head portion 21 and stem por tion 92 having threaded connection with each other, as shown at 23. The head portion 21, which is equal in diameter to the bore 16 formed in the bushing, is reduced to provide spaced rusto-conical shoulders or seat portions24 and 25 adapted to engage the seats 1S and 19, respectively, of the bushing and to further provide an intermediate cylindrical portion 26. Above the upper of these seat portions 24, the valve is provided with a further reduced'cylindrical portion 27 upon which the kthreads are cut which engage in the internally threaded socket ofthe lower end of the stem portion 22 of the valve, the lower end of such stem portion being exte-riorly beveled, as shown at 28, to meet the reduced. cylindrical portion 27 of the valve head. As a result, when the valve and stem are assembled, the valve is. capable of being opened until the beveledlowerend 2S otV the stem portion 22 engages the upper face of the upper shoulderlS, there being an annular chamber between the upper tace of this shoulder and the beveled face 28 when the valve is closed or open, due to a dilierence in the inclinations of the beveled end of the rstem andthe upper face of. the shoulder 1S. The valve stem projects, when the valve is closed, nearly to the upper end of the valve casing and is reduced at a point above the septum 1l to provide an annular shoulder 29 and has its terminal further reduced and externally threaded, as shown at 30. The valve and its stem portion are provided with an axially formed bore 31.. This bore, as a rule, opens through the lower end of the valve and at its upper end extends beyond the annular shoulder 29 and nearly t0 the reduced terminal 30 of the valve stem, a plug 32, slottedL at 33 to receive a screw driver, being employed to close the lower end of the bore 31 when the valve is in use. This bore, as will be later apparent, forms a portion of the Huid passage through the valve andv its diameter may, therefore, be varied to suit the use towhich the valve is to be put. The valve proper is further provided with a plurality of diametrically formed bores or passages 34 which intersect the bore 31 and. which, at their outer ends, open into the cylindrical face 2G of the valve. The valve or stem portion thereof is, in like manner, provided with one or more diametrically formed bores or passages 35 intersecting the axial bore 3'1 near its upper end, that is, at a point intermediate the shoulder 29 and reduced terminal 30 of thevalve stem.

As the entire uid passing through my balanced valve passes through these bores orpassages 34 and 35, it will beclear that the sum of the cross sectional areas of the passages of. each group, above described, should at least be equal to or preferably exceed the cross sectional area of the main bore orpassage 31. f

f A diaphragm 36 isvformedv centrally with an opening to receive the reduced terminal 7 of the valve and engages against the annular shoulder formed ansia result otreducing such terminal, being clamped against this shoulder by a nut 3S. A Cotter pin or other suitable anchoring device 39 is passed through this nut, through the terminal of the valve, and through an opening formed inthe plug 32. to securely anchor both the plug and nut against displacement. As clearly shown, the valve casing 10 has its lower edge reduced in thickness;y to provide an annular seat 40 toreceive the peripheral edge of thediaphragm, this seat being provided. with a circumferential channel in which a metallic packing ring 41, preferably of soft lead, is positioned to prevent leakage of fluid past the edge of the diaphragm. A clamping ring 42 is positioned against the outer face of thev diaphragm and is secured in place by a bonnet 43 which is threaded into the open lower end of the valve casing, a packing ringdd being interposed between the edge of the valve casing and a lflange 45 formed peripherally about the. bonnet, This bonnet is formed centrally with a tappedbore 4.6 adapted to receive` a fluid pressure piped?. This bore, however, does not extend completely through the bonnet, but at its inner end intersects a plurality of downwardly converging` passages 4S formed; in an interiorly thiclrened'portionA of the bonnet to provide a stop 49 spaced somewhat below the lower end of the valve stem and engageable by the valve stem upon opening oity the valve to va certain extent to prevent further movement of the valve. Y

The upper portion of the valve casing 10 is cutaway interiorly to provide spaced annular shoulders 50 and 51, the interior diameter of. the casing, above the shoulder 50, as a result, being greater than the interior diameter of the main body or' the casing, while that above the shoulder 51 is greater `than that above the shoulder 50. A diaphragm 52 is formed centrally with an opening to receive the reduced upper end of the 'valve stem, this diaphragm seating centrally uponthe annular shoulder 29and peripherally upon the shoulder 50, this latter shoulder having its `face channeled to receive a metallic packing ring. A sleeve 5A 'longitudinally extending channelA 57 to receive the end of a pin 58 extending radially f from the stem portion of the valve, this pin. and channel serving` to insure proper positioning of the sleeve 5e about the stem portion of the valve to bring its openings 56 into alinement with the ends of the passages 35.

A ring or collar 59 fits closely within that portion of the valve casing above the shoulder 50, seating at its lower edge upon the peripheral edge portion of the diaphragm 52 and at its upper edge receiving the `peripheral edge of the diaphragm 55. This ring or collar is provided at one side with a port or passage 60 which alines with a port or passage 61 lorined in the valve casing, this latter port or passage constituting either the inlet or outlet port of the valve, as preferred. In order to insure proper alinement `with the ports 60 and 61, the collar 59 is provided, in its outer face, with a longitudinal groove or channel 62 to receive the extended end of a piu 63 which projects radially from the wall of thc valve casing. The upper end of the collar 59 is externally reduced to form a shoulder 6ft in the same horizontal plane with the shoulder 5l in order that a metallic packing ring 65 may be seated between the ring and valve casing and below the diaphragm 55.

A clamping ring 66 is positioned directly above the diaphragm 55, engaging the peripheral edge of the diaphragm to hold it in place and is secured in place by a bonnet 67 closing` the upper end of the valve casing and provided with a threaded inlet passage 68 to receive a fluid pressure pipe 69. A nut 70 is threaded upon the threaded terminal 30 of the stem portion of the valve 22 to clamp the central portion of the diaphragm 55 against the upper end of thek sleeve 54e and to, consequently, hold the central portion of the diaphragm 52 between the lower end of such sleeve and the shoulder 29, this nut being secured against displacement from the stem portion of the valve by a cotter pin 7l or equivalent fastening device. A packing ring or gasket 72 is interposed between the upper edge of the valve casing and a peripheral flange 73 formed upon the bonnet 67 in order to insure a fluid tight construction.

It will be apparent that the diaphragms 36, 52 and 55 divide the valve casing into a plurality of chambers 7a, 7 5, 76 and 77 and that the valve 2O is adapted, when opened, to establish communication between the chambers 75 and 76. A duct or passage 7 8 is cored through the wall of the valve casing to provide an inlet or outlet passage, according to whether the passage 61 is utilized as an inlet or outlet passage and, for the sake of convenience, this duct is preferably so formed that its outer end is in alineinent with the passage 6l in order that the valve may be readily inserted in a pipe line. The passages 61 and 78 extend through externally threaded nipples 79 which, in connection with the coupling devices 60, provide means for connecting the valve to pipe sections.

Preferably, the clamping ring l2, collar 5S and clamping ring 66 are each `provided interiorly with an annular rib or shoulder 8l by means of which they mayv be readily grasped and withdrawn from the valve casing in case the valve is being disassembled for repairs or cleaning purposes.

In order that the valve may be accurately balanced, under all conditions, it is necessary that the areas of the surfaces of the diaphragms, which are exposed to pressure, be the same. By referring to the drawings, it will be seen that the diaphragms 52 rand 55 are exactly equal. to each other in area and that, for this reason, any pressure in the chamber 76, whether it enters throughI the passages 34: and 35, with the result that such pressure in no way tends to either open or close the valve.

Assuming that there is any pressure in the chamber 75, it will be clear that the fluid in such chamber will act equally against both diaphragms 36 and 52 with no effect on the valve. It will, therefore, be clear that any pressure in the chamber 75, when the valve is closed, will have absolutely no effect, tending to either open the valve or to hold it more closely to its seat. Again, it will be clear that the fact will be the same when the valve 20 is open, as the valve will then be subject to a slight downward pressure against its (conical faces 23 and 24, which pressure is balanced by an upward pressure against its face 2S.

Before explaining the operation of my improved balanced valve, I wish to first direct attention to the modilied form or valve construction, illustrated in Fig. 2 of the drawings. In this figure, such parts as are identical with those previously described in connection with Fig. l will be indicated by corresponding reference numerals. Instead of the bonnet 43 having the fluid passage 46, I provide a bonnet 82 which is interiorly thickened to provide a valve stop 83 and which is formed with an atmospheric port or vent passage 84, whereby the lower ing an atmospheric vent or passage 86, whereby the upper faceV of the diaphragm 55 is, at all times, subjected tol atmospheric pressure. The bonnet 85 is provided centrally withv an opening and the stem portion 9,2 of the valve 20 is formed with a reduced extension 87 projecting through this opening and providing a means for manually operating4 the valve. Furthermore, bymeans of this extended portion 87 of the stem, it will be apparent that the valve may be operated by any suitable mechanism, such as a centrifugal governor or by means of solenoids, electro-magnets or other equivalent devices.

The operation of the form of valve illustrated in Fig. l will be readily yunderstood by reference to the drawings. Under normal circumstances, that is, with the valve closed, the valve will be held to its seat by the diaphragm but without any real application of force tending to prevent itsunseating, irrespective of the pressures which it is controlling, due to the fact that all fluid, under pressure, entering the chamber has no effect either to seat or unseat the valve andthat all pressure in the chamber 76 likewise has no effect upon the valve. It will, therefore, be clear that if the fluid pressure in the' chamber 77 is increased slightly-over the fluid pressure in the chamber 74, or the pressure in the latter chamber decreased below that in the former, the valve will be moved to open position, the amount of its opening being of course dependent upon the differences in pressures in the chambers 74 and 77. As soon as the valve has partially opened, fluid under pressure entering from the chamber 7 5 may pass upwardly betweenthe faces 19 and 18 of the valve seat and faces 25 and 24 ofthe valve intothe passages, 34 and so into the main passage 3l of the valve. From this passage, the fluid escapes through. the alined ports or passages 35 and 56 to the chamber 7.6 and so from the valve through the outlet passage 61. Ifl the pressures in the controlling chambers 74 and 77 are equalized, or if the pressure in the chamber 7 4 is raised above that in the chamber 77, the valve will close, thereby shutting o' all ow of fluid therethrough.

The operation of the form ofv valve illustrated in Fig. 2 is identical with thatfpreviously described, with the exception that instead of being operated by fluid pressures in certain controlling chambers it is operated by vpositive movement of the extended portion 87 of the valve stem caused by manual or any suitable mechanical agencies.

A number of advantages which my valve structure possesses over balanced valves of the types now in use will be readily apparent from the foregoingdescription. Many ofthe so-calledbalanced valves require considerable` effort for their opening and closing, due to friction between the parts, valves ofthe piston` type being` chief amongthem. Again, many valves of the so-called balanced type depend in their action, either wholly or partially, upon springs which balance the valve only in one position and with use require constant adjustment and which also deteriorate and require renewed tensioning. All ofgv these difficulties are done. away with by my valve structure.

Furthermore, I have provided a valve which, with slight modifications, mayy be controlled either manually, mechanically or by means of fluid pressures, acting in controlling chambers within the valve casing itself. Again, while many of the so-called balanced valves are balanced byin-coming pressures they are not for out-going pressures or the reverse, or if balanced by both such pressures7 they are balanced only when these pressures bear certain definite relations to each other, or only when the valve is closed or when` opened.

It is obvious that many minor changes may be made in the details of construction, without in any way affecting the proper operation of my improvedY valve mechanism and I do not, therefor-@wish torin. any way limit myselfA to such details, reserving the right to make any changes, within the scope of the appended claims, without in the slightest deoree departing from the spirit of my invention. f

Having thus described the invention,what is claimed as new is:

l. A valve including a valve casing having inlet and outlet ports, a valve proper controlling communication between the ports, and diaphragms for balancing 'the valve in any position irrespective of the pressures which it governs and changes in such pressures.

2. A valve including a valve casing yhaving inlet and outlet ports, a valve proper controlling communication between the ports,V and frictionless means for balancing the valve in any position irrespective of the which it is subjected.

4. A valve including a valve casing having inlet and outlet ports,l a diaphragm in the casing subjected, upon one face, to pressurefrom one port and upon the other face to pressure from the other port, a valve secured to the diaphragm and adapted, when open, to establish communication between the ports, and additional means secured to the valve -for balancing it whether open or closed and irrespective of the pressures to which it is subjected, said additional means including a second diaphragm subjected to pressure from the inlet port, and a further diaphragm subjected to pressure from the outlet port, both of said latter diaphragme being secured to the valve.

5. A. valve including a valve casing, a plurality of diaphragme dividing the valve casing into pressure chambers, the valve casing being formed with an inlet passage opening between two of the diaphragme and with an outlet passage opening betweentwo of the diaphragms, a valve secured to all of the diaphragme, and a valve seat disposed in one of the pressure chambers and co-acting with the valve to, in one position of the valve, shut off communication between that chamber communicating with the. inlet port and that communicating with the outlet port and in other positions of the valve to establish communication between such chambers.

A 6. A valve including a valve casing, a plu,-

rality of diaphragms dividing thel valve cas-` ing into pressure chambers, the valve casing being' formed withan inlet passage opening between one pair'of diaphragms into one chamber and with an outlet passage opening between diaphragms` into an adjacent chamber, a valve secured to allyof the diaphragms and a valve seat disposed in one of the pressure chambers and co-actingwith the valve to, in one position of the valve, shut 0H communication between that chamber communieating with the inlet port and vthat communicating with the outlet port and in other positions of the valveto establish communication between such chambers, the valve being so formed that in'either open or closed position, all surfaces/of the valve exposed to pressure tending to move it in one direction are balanced by othersu'rfaces exposed to the same pressure and equal in area and therefore tending to move it in the opposite direction.

7. Avalve including a casing having yan inlet and an outlet port, a `pair of diaphragms disposed, one at either side of one of the ports, and a valve carried by the diaphragms and adapted, in one position, to establish communication through one of the diaphragms tothe other port.`

8. A valveincluding a casing havinganV inlet and an outlet port, a pair of diaphragms disposed, one at either side'of one of the ports a valve carried by the diaphragms an adapted, in one position, to establish communication through one of the diaphragme to the other port, and an additional diaphragm extending across the casing and secured to the valve to co-act with the first diaphragms and balance the valve under all conditions ofI pressure controlled by the valve.

9. A valve including a casing having an inlet and an outlet port, a pair of diaphragms disposed, one at either side of one of the ports, a valve carried by the diaphragme and adapted, in one position, to establish communication through one of the diaphragms to the other port, an additional diaphragm extending across the casing and secured to the valve to co-act with the rst diaphragms and balance the valve under all conditions of pressure controlled by the valve, and means for supplying fluid, under pressure, to chambers formed between the ends of the casing and the outer faces of the outer diaphragms, whereby the relative pressures in such chambers may control the movement of the valve.

10. A valve including a valve casing having inlet and outlet ports, a valve proper controlling communication between the ports, and fluid pressure controlled means secured to thevalve proper and unless affected by pressure other than those of the fluid controlled by the valve always normally tending to hold the valve in any position into which it may be moved.

11. A valve including a valve casing having inlet and outlet ports, a valve proper controlling communication 4between the ports, and fluid pressure controlled means secured to the valve proper and normally tending to hold the valve in any position into which it may be moved, said means operating automatically at'all times and irrespective of the direction or amount of fluid pressures which the valve controls when either opened or closed.

12. A valve including a valve casing having inlet and outlet ports, a valve proper controlling communication between the ports, means secured to the valve proper for balancing the valve automatically at all timesand irrespective of the pressures which it controls,v and means for rendering` such means unbalanced to cause opening and closing of the valve.

' 13. A valve including a valve casing having inlet and outlet ports, a valve proper controlling communication between the ports, a pairof fluid pressure controlled elements disposed one at either side of one of the ports, afurther fluid vpressure controlled element disposed at the further side of the other port, the valve being connected toall of-such elements, and a valve seat co-acting with the valve 14. A valve including a valve casing havi f to all of such elements7 and a valve seat coacting with the valve, each of said liuid pressure controlled elements operating in the same way and to the same extent under similar conditions as the other elements.

15, A valve including a valve casing having inlet andV outlet ports, means dividing the casing into a chamber communicating.

with the inlet port anda chamber communicating with the outlet port, a valve sea-t located in one of the chambers, and a valve i extending through the dividing ymeans and engageable with the seat, the said valve being formed with a fluid passage opening at one endy through that portion of the valve which engages. the seat when the valve is closed. f

16. A valve including la valve casingihaving inlet and outlet ports, means dividing the,` casing, into a chamber communicating with thefinlet portk and a chamber communicating with the outlet port, ya valve seat located one-` ofthe chambers,'and a valvey extending. through theV dividing means and engageable, with the seat, the said valve being. formed with a fluid passage opening at one end through that'portion ofthe valve which engages the, seat when the valve is closed, said valve andY seat being so formed that any pressure against the valve, whether open orV closed, has no effect to change the position of the valve. Y v

' 17'. valve including avalve casing having inlet and outlet ports, means dividing the casing into al chamber communicating, with the inlet port andv a chamber communicating with the outlet. port, a valve seat located in one of the chambers, and a valve extendingl through the dividing means and engageable with the seat, the said valve being formed with a fluid passagek closed by engagement of, the valve with the seat, said valve including a cylindrical body having a longitudinal', passage closed aty its ends and radi alj passages opening from they longitudinali passage into thel chambers, the valve being reduced to form a cylindrical. portionl through 'which the. radial passages opening into one of the chambers open, frusto-conical seat engagingportions, one at eitherl side of;v the reduced cylindricall portion, and a secondv and further reduced; cylindrical portion beyond one of thevfrustoconical portions, the valve seat being formedl with. ar cylindrical bore, to receive the valve and; with annulany inwardly directed shoul-V ders having frusto-conical facesto seat the frusto-conical faces ofV thevalve-vwhen the valve is closed, f y

. 18. A; valve includingavalve casing havngg inlet and; outlet ports, Ymeans dividing the casing into a .chamber communicatingv with the inlet port and a chamber communicating'with vthe outlet port, a valve seat located. in one of the chambers, and a valve extending through the dividing means and engageable n, with the seat, the said valve being formed with a fluid passage closed by engagement-of the valve with the seat,

said valve including a cylindrical body having a longitudinal passage closed at its ends and radial passages opening from the longitudinal passage into the chambersthe valve being reduced to form a cylindrical portion through whichy the radial passages opening into -one of the chambers open, frustoconical seat engagingportions, one ateither side of the reduced cylindrical portion, and a second and further reduced cylindrical portion beyond Vone of the frusto-conical portions, the valve seat being formed with. a cylindrical bore to receive the valve and with annular inwardly directed shoulders having frusto-conical faces to seat the frusto-conical faces of the valve whenthe valve is closed, the space between theshoulders forming a circumferential chamber about that cylindrical portion of the valve through which the radial passages open.

19. A valve including a valve casing,I a diaphragm extending across they casing adjacent each end, the casing being formed with ports opening into it betweenthe diaphragms, a further diaphragm extending across the casing between ports, cylindrical valve extending through and secured to all ofthe diaphragms and formed, with longitudinal passage closed atits ends and. with radial passages I establishing y communication between the longitudinal passage and the chamber in the valve casing with which one of the ports communicates and withfurther. radial passagesy establishing communication between the longitudinal passage and the chamber in the valve casing with which the other port communicates, andy al valve seatvlocated in one of said chambers and adapted' in normal position. ofthe valve` to close the radial: passages of the valvel which communicate with such chamber.

20. A valve including; al valve casing, a diaphragm extending across the casing ad; jacent eachy end, the casing-being formed with ports opening-into it betweenl the diaphragms, a lfurther diaphragm; extending across the casing between the ports, a cylindrical valve extending, through and securedY to all of,y the diaphragms and fermed; with a. longitudinal passage closedat itsendsand.

, with; radialy passages establishing 'communication between the longitudinal passage and the chamber in the valve casing, withi which one of, the ,ports communicates andfwithffurther radial passages establishing comm-.unication between thelongitudinalpassage and the. chamber in the valve casing with which soY the other port communicates, and a Valve seat located in one of said chambers and adapted in normal position of the valve to close the radial passages of the Valve which communicate with such chamber, said Valve and valve seat being so formed that in open and closed position of the valve any pressure in the containing chamber will not tend to move the valve.

2l. A valve including a valve casing, a diaphragm extending across the casing adjacent each end, the casing being formed with ports opening into it between the diaphragms7 a further diaphragm extending across the casing between the ports, a cylin' drical valve extending through and secured to all of the diaphragms and formed with a longitudinal passage closed at its ends and with radial passages establishing communication between the longitudinal passage and 3 0 the chamber in the valve casing with which one of the ports communicates and with further radial passages establishing communication between the longitudinal passage and the chamber in the valve casing with which 25 the other port communicates, and a Valve seat located in one of said chambers and adapted in norma-l position of the Valve to close the radial passages of the Valve which communicate with such chamber, said Valve 30 luid under pressure against the outer faces 35 of the end diaphragme to operate the valve. In testimony whereot1 I aiiiX my signature.

VILLIS C. WEBSTER.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

` Washington, ID. C. 

